11 Actors You Recognize Whose Names You Forget

Late in 2005, director Robert Brinkmann released an intimate film entitled Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party. The 87-minute documentary focused on the life and career of Stephen Tobolowsky, one of America's most prolific and, perhaps, least-known actors. Despite starring in such films as Thelma and Louise, Basic Instinct and Groundhog Day, the American public is oblivious to his star status, a premise that was underscored in the film's trailer when Tobolowsky himself asked a passersby if they had ever heard of him.

As humorous as the scenario may have been, it's not uncommon. For every Tom Cruise and Will Smith there are dozens of actors who aren't even household names within their own households. Dim the lights and grab your popcorn as we take a loving look at these underappreciated artists.

1- John C. Reilly

If you frequently get Bill Paxton and Bill Pullman confused you're not alone. The two 6'0" tall, 50-something actors could easily be one another's stand-ins if their careers ever hit the skids. Fortunately, that hasn't been the case. A former set dresser for Roger Corman, Bill Paxton has played an ultra-earnest good guy in films such as Thunderbirds, U-571, Titanic, Apollo 13, Aliens, and The Terminator. Bill Pullman, meanwhile, had made a career out of falling down on cue in cinematic fare like Spaceballs, Casper and Ruthless People. The two actors both starred in the 1990 thriller Brain Dead, proving once and for all that they are indeed two different people.

From that mob boss in Batman Begins to the bad guy from Die Hard, it's time to put names to some of Hollywood's most recognizable faces...